Volume-controlling means for mechanical musical instruments.



J. H, DICKINSON. ENG MEANS FOR I'JEGHA VOLUME UONTROLL NIGAL MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS.

APPLIUATION FILED DEC.16, 1905.

Patented June 29, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET l Inventor;

DW, 993% I i ys J. H. DICKINSON.

S T N m U R T S m L A BANS FOR MECHANICAL MUSIC APPLICATION FILED DEO.16,}1905.

VULUME CONTROLLING M Q nu 9 i 9' 2 8 m J d. 6 m 8 m P F u T E E H A T E E H S 0 J. H. mofcmsom. VOLUME CONTROLLING MEANS FOR MECHANICAL MUSIGAL INSTRUMENTS.

I APPLICATION FILED 1350.16, 1905. i 926, 1? Paiennea June- .23, 1909.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

J. H. DICKINSON. VOLUME CONTROLLING ME '926 i?8e ANS FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL INS TR U MEN TS. Patented June 29,1909.

APPLIOATION'FILBD 1330.16, 1905.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

1. UNITED striv'rns"PA Nro rIo posture-n. moiursoiv, or cnmronn, NEW JERSEY, Assumes To run AEOLIAN COMPANY, i or new YQRK,-1\.Y.,A conromriolv or ooNN-Eo'mco'r- VOLUME-CONTROLLING MEANS FOR MECHANICAL MUSICAL Ins'rnmnrrs.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 29, 1909..

. 7 Application filed December 16, 1905. Serial No. 291,974

To all whomit mag concern:

Be it known that L-Josnru ll. DIcinNsoN, a citizen of the United States. and a resident of cra'nford, in the county of Union and State ofh'ew Jersey, have invented certaln new and useful Improvements 1n Viilumercontrolling Means for Mechanical -l\'lusical Instrument-s," of which the follow- ,ing is a specifications My1nvent1 on relates to pneumatically operated musical mstruments, and particularly to means forcontrolling the volume of sound produced by modifying the force suppliedto various note-sounding devices,

i a valve casing, valve and actuating mechan- F 1g. 4 1s a view, partially or to groups of such devices.

It has for its object to so control the notesounding devices eitherby the hand of the operator-or automatically by means of perforations 1n the IIllISlC sheet.

It consists of means to these ends, including means by which the operator of the manual controlling device throws the sheet actuated controlling c ce out of operation. nd COlIlbllltllilOllS ot and of novel valve parts hereinafter described.

In illustrating and describing the preferred mode of constructing and operating .my invention I will refer to a pneumatic musical instrument player, which may be incorporated with, or wholly or partially separated from a piano, organ or other. in-

struinent As such players 1n many forms are well known in the art, I have shown in.

the drawings only so much of the dev ce as' is necessary to explain my invention.

Figure 1 15a partial front vlew of a player, the casing being removed. Fig. 2 is an enlarged partial view of the tracker and of a perforated music sheet. Fig. 3 is. a front elevation, partiallyin section, of

ism therefor.

diagrammatic and partially in section through. the' line atei, Fig. 1. Fig. 5 18 a horizontal sect-ion tl-irough the line 5, Fig. 1. FigJ'G is awertical section through the plane 6-G, Fig. ,5. Fig. 7 is a partial front elevation of parts shown in Fig. 5,

shown inFig. 7.. Fig. 9 is. an elevation of dtitails. on the plane'-10''10, Fig. 9'. Figs.

lll and 12 are plan views showing different positions of the valve shown in Figs. 9 and Fig. 8 is a plan view --of the alve and valve seat 10. Fig. 131s a side elevation of the valve shown at the left-of Fig. 2. Figz l t is a vertical section of a portion of the pneumatic action of the player showing its connection with a valve chamber'for modifying the sound produced."

'1 designates. a valve casing, leading from .which is a series of tubes or connections 11, each of which leads to a valve chamber con-. nected with one of the note-sounding or striking pnemnatics of the instrument, as

hereinafter described. Within the bore of,

the casing 1 slides a valve 12 having a tubular stem 13 and a'lateral port 14. As shown, the port 11 isadapted to connnunicate in turn with each of the ports which terminate thetuhes ll. casing 1 are tubes or pipes 16-, 17, leading to a chamber 2. while the free end of the tubu- -lar stem 1 is also connected by a flexible luboltfi to the chamber 2, which is in turn connected by a tube 20 to asource of pneumatic forctyin this case a suction wind chest 32. low tension wind chest 33 are indicated in Fig. 1 of the drawings. The tubular stein 12-3 is donnccted by a link 19 to a hand lever 15, by m ans/of whichthe valve '12 may be Connected to the ends of the This wind chest 32 and the normal ormoved to coilnect the port 11 with any of' the tubes 11, as desircd.- It is evidentthatby a slight change of size 0r arrangement the valve 12 may be made-to communicate simultaneously with a small group of 'th -tubcs 11, instead of communicating with a single tube, as shown. Also connected to the lever-15 by a series of 'linksand a lever is a pointer 15 adapted to move transversely .over the music sheet,' as shown in Fig. 1. As this pointer and its connections form no part of. the present invention they. need not be numbered or further described.-' In the chamber 2 are't vowalves21,-22, adapted to connect the respective ends of the'valvecasing 1 through the tubes 16 and 17, eitgher, with atmosphere or with the suction chamber 2. The diaphragm pneumatics by which the valves 21, 22 are moved areconneeted respectively by tubes 23, 24 to ports 40, 41

in a valve seat 4, and in additiomby tubes 50, to ports 52, 53 in a second-valve seat 5. On the valveseat l, shown in Figs. 1, 4, 7 and f the drawingsi-rests afvalve 42' shown as a fiat bar having with the face of the seat 4:. The valve 42 is .moved tgu-cover and uncover the ports 40 iding contactin which both through tubes v diaphragm of which is 41 by means of four bellows pneumatics 61, 62, 63 and 64, shown in Figs. 1, 3, 4, 5 and 7 of the drawings: As shown, the valve 42 is pivoted at its middle point to a spring lever 43 which is pivoted on a post 44 on the alve seat l. As shown in Fig. 7, the lever 13 serves as a spring to hold the valve 42 to its seat as well as to move the valve in a manner to be hereafter described.

As shown in Figs. -l; and 7, the ettect of collapsing the bellows 61 will be to press in the left end of the valve bar 42 so as to un cover the port'..-10. The bellows G2 acts to force the bar 42 directly back against the pin 45 on the seat 43% to uncover both ports 10, 41. -'llhe collapsing of the bellows 63 acts to force back valve 42 so as to uncover the port 41. Finally, the collapsing of the bellows 64 acts through the lever 13 to force the valve bar 42 to its forward position shown in Fig. 8,

ports 40, 11 are covered.

The bellows 61, 62, 63 and 64: are con nected by means of passage =35 to a valve chamber 7, in which are four diaphragm valves 71, 72, 73, 74 (see Figs. 4 and 6). These valves are moved to alternately admit air or suction to the bellows 61, 62, 63 and 64. respectively by diaphragm pneumatics in the usual manner, as shown in Fig. 6. Air is admitted to raise these diaphragms 75, 76,77, 78 leading to ducts 75 76*,77 and 78* 70. In addition to thevalves 71, 72,73, 74, the valve chamber 7 contains a valve 7 9, the normally raised by air admitted through a passage 710 controlled by the valve 74. A. second passage 711 leads from the com 'iartment 712 in the chamber 7 in which the valves 7% and 79 are placed to the compartment 713 in which are the valves '71, 72, 73.

The valve seat- 5 with which the valves 21, 22 of the chamber 2 are also connected is provided in addition to the dcsq'ibed, witha third a tube 55 extends to the uni relief valve to be hereafter described. On the valve seat 5 rests a valve 56, shown as a fiatbar similar to the valve 42. It is moved. to micovcr these ports 52,01 53 alternately or all the ports 52, 53, 51 at, the same time by a-manual device (see Figs. 1, 9 and 10) comprising fonr levers 57, 58, 59, 510 provided at their upper ends with push buttons 57, 58". it)", 510*, which as shown, project through a stationary part of the instrument itself adjacent. to and below the tracker 70. I

As will be seen in Figs. 9 and 1.0, the lovers 57 and act to force back an end of the valve 50 so as to uncover the ports 52 and 53' respectively, together with the central port. 54 in either case, as shown in dotted lines, Fig. '12. The lever 59 moves the valve port 54, from which chamber 8 of a manthe right end of the I vidcd with longitudinal respectively in a tracker ports 52, 53, already 56 integrally to uncover all the ports 52, 53, 5 (see full lines, Fig. 12) while the lever 510 replaces the valve 56 to close all the ports, as shown in 'Fig. 11. It. will be seen that the lower member of the bent lever 510 acts as a spring to hold the valve 56 to its seat 5. Both the'valve seats 4 and 5 are pro vided with stop pins, as shown in Figs. 8, l1 and 12, to limit the movement of the valves and 50 respectively.

1 have described a tube 78 as leading to a duct 78 in the tracker 70. In the present form of the invention, however, the tube, while it leads to the duct 78*, does so indirectly through a valve chamber 8, shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 13 of the drawings, from which a tube 781 passes directly to the duct. As already described, this valve chamber 8 is also connected by a tube 55 with the port 54 in the valve seat 5. The chamber 8 may be opened to atmosphere by the lifting of a valve 81, which is effected by means of a cam 82 on the shaft 83,'the bent end 8 1 of which forms a handle convenient to the operator and adjacent the side'of the music sheet 9.

In Fig. 14 I have shown a portion of the action casing of the player to illustrate a, mode of increasing the pneumatic force supplied to the striking pneumatics. One of the tubes 11 is shown as leading to'a diaphragm chamber 91 in the casing 92. This casing is prosuction chambers 93 and 94 connected respectively to sources of high and low wind, i. 6., air under relatively high and low tensions. A. valve 95 is carried by the diaphragm 90 which closes is connected alternatively with the chambers 93, 9t alternatively to a chamber 97. A tube 98 leads from one of the ducts in the tracker 70 to operate a diaphragm valve 99, by means ofiwliich the striking pneumatic 100 is connected alternatively with the chamber 97 or with atmosphere. The pneumatic 100 carries the usual rod 101 leading to the key or jack, not. shown, for sounding one of the strings, pipes or reeds of the instrument. In describing the operation of my device, I wish to premise that the moving of the valve 12 by means of the hand lever 15 and the movenient of the indicator 1?) are similar to those shown in United States Patents No. 743,065, granted on my application November 3, 1903, and No. 743,130, granted on the application of Francis Young on the same date. of the present invention, and are obvious from an inspection of the drawing, Fig. 1 they need not be-herein further described.

' he present invention in the form illustrated serves the'pur ose of controlling the volume of sound proc need by modifying the pneumatic force supplied to note sounding devices at either side of a movable (lividin means by supplying increased or decreaso tension or pressure to the valve casing 1 at As these thereforeform no part;

' L I 5 ,ithe dra wings.

hither side of the valve 12 in'whatever posi- I ,1 4 tion this'may be at any given time. Inthe the/chamber 1 through the tube 17,.the operator pressesthe button 57*, shown in Figs. 'l, and,9 of the drawings, whereby the left endof the bar 56. is 'pressed forward, as

, shown in dotted .lines, F ig. 12. This un- ,.coversthe portsij2 and 54 in the valve Air;then.-passes through'the port 52 and tube 5'Oa'nd acts on the diaphragm pneu- 1-5 .Inatic shown at the right of chamber 2, Fig.

' 3., t0 raise the'valve 22. The upper portion [of this valve admits atmospheric air to the ;iti1be,17,-while the lower portion of the valve cuts off connection between the tube 17 and 20 'the'suction chamber. In the same way the pressure ofthe operators fingers on the but- "-.a'-- tton,58 will openthe port to permit the passage of air through the tube 51, which acts. in*a similar manner to raise the valve 21in the chamber 2 and permit the passage of'air through the tube 16 to the left end of ,the valve casing 1. VVhen the operator "presses on'the button 59* the valve 56 willbe' moved integrally forward, as shown in so full lines, Fig. 12, to admit air to both ports 52 and 53, as well to .the port 54. In this fi'case both the valves 21 and 22 will be raised arrd air will be admitted to both ends of the valve casing 1 throughthe tubeslti and 17.

In like manner, by pressing the button 510*, the operator-is enabled to return the bar 56 to-fzthe position shown. in Fig. 11 of the drawings, in which 7 air is cut oft from all the pt'irts 52, 53, 54t,'when the valves 21, 22 will I40 returntothe positionshown in Fig. 3 of the drawings,,and both tubes 16, 17, andthe rewhich they are connected, will be connected ULthBJSuCtlOIl chamber 2. I have thus far 145 on' itted'to describe the efi'ectcaused by the pneumatic diaphragms which act to raise the valves 21, 22' as connected by tubes 22-), 24toports 40,41 respectively in a valve seat 4. -Thesc ports. are opened and closed by a valve bar-.612, shown-r in Figs. 1,4. 7 and 8 of The movement of the valve-42 fen its seats: is similar to that of the valve 56" X "'o'n; i;ts;seat 5, already described. The left.

end of the; bar 42 ispressed backward to uncover thetube'tl; when desired by means of 60 'ztfingerrtflfattached to the front or movable 1 bOaIETTofa-a pneumatic bellows '61. In the "fsamegway the; right end of the valve is pressed backward to uncover the port :11 by the collapsing of the bellows 63. It is obvious that thecollapsing f the bellows 61,

whereby air is admitted to the portstO, will. byreason of the passage of air through the tube 23 raise the valve 21 and connect the tube 16 and the left end of the casing 1 with atmosphere, and that a .silnilal movement of the bellows (33 will connect the right end of the casing 1 through the tube 17 with at- -1nosphere by reason of the lifting of the valve in the chamber 2. 'It will be seen that the finger 62 on the intermediate b llows 62 is of sufficient width to press backward the entire valve -12 integrally, while the collapsingof the bellows 61, shown at l the right of Fig. 7, acts through the lever 43 to return the valve to its normal position x shown in Fig. 8of the drawingspin which both ports40 and 11 are covered, and in which case, of course, both ends of the valve casing 1 are connected. to the-suction chamber 2. The method of collapsing the bellows 61, (32, and 64 as desired will now be explained.

Immediately adjacent the bellows 61, (32, G3 and (34 is a board 7 in which are two valve chambers 712, 713. In the valvechamber 713 are three diaphragm valves 71, 72, 73. In the valve chamber'712 is a diaphragm valve 74 and an additional valvevdiaphragm 79. It is understoodtluit the chamber-S712 and 713 are both connected by any convenientmeans, not. shown, to a source of wind tension, preferably the wind chest 32. The diaphragm pneumatics below the valves 71, 72, 73, are connected respectively by flexible tubes 75, 7(3, 77 to ducts .75", 76*, 77

respectively in the tracker 70 of the instrument. The diaphragm pneumatic below the valve 7 1 is connected by the tube 7 8 to the valve chamber 8, as shown in Fig. 2, and this valve chamber is connected by a tube 781 to a duct 78 in the tracker. The music sheet 9 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings is provided in addition to the usual note-actuating perforations J1 with four rows or series of perforations '95, 96, 97, 98,

adapted, as the sheet passes over the tracker,

to register respectively with the ducts '7 77*, and 78*. IVhen a perforation passes over the duct 75 air will pass through the tube 75 and act through t-hediaphragm pneumatic to raise the valve 71, thus cutting oil the passage of air through the tube ()5 to the bellowslil and connecting the bellows (31 with the suction chamber 713. The. consequent collapsing of the bellows (51 will act to move the left end of the valve bar 42 to uncover the port 4-0, by which, as already explained, the valve 2-1 inthe chamber 2 raised and air admitted to the left end of the valve easing 1, andhence to such of the tubes 11 as happen at the time to beat the leftof the valve 12. In the same way the passage 'of a )erforation 97 over the duct 77* will act tn'ough the movement of the 5 in the music sheet when which moves the bar 42 inwardly to uncover both the ports 10 and 41, and thus to admit air to both ends of the valve casing 1, and

to all the tubes 11 connected therewith, ex-.

cept the tube or tubes covered by the valve 12. Similarly, a perforation 98 in the sheet 9 passing over the duct 78* in the tracker passes air through the tube. 781, valve chamber 8 andtube 78 to lift the valve 74.- in the casing 7. This acts in'the manner already described to move the valve bar 42 to its forward position shown in Fig. 8 of the drawings, thereby closing both the ports 40 and 41, whereby both the valves 21 and 22 are lowered to the position shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and both ends of the valve casing 1 are connected through the tubes 16 and 17 to the suction'chamber 2. 'The valve 7 1 has the additional function of opening the passa e 710 in the block to the suction chamber 712, as shown in Fig. 6. This acts to depress the valve 79, thereby opening it to atmosphere.

The air then passes through the passage 711 to the chamber 713 in'the block 7, thereby depressin the diaphragm pneumatics connected to t e valves 71, 2, l3, and opening these to air by which the bellows. 61, 62, 63, if any of them happen to be collapsed at the time, are promptly expanded. In this way they ofier no opposition to the collapsing of the bellows 64, by which the bar 42 is moved.

It will be seen that two independent means are provided for the admission of air to the respective ends of the .valve' casing 1. One of these is manual so that the player or operator may determine the force to be giyen the striking neumatics of the instrument as he wills. i he other is automatic, 2'. 6., it is controlled by the additional perforations in the music sheet. To render these two methods alternative, that is, to prevent any actionlof the perforations 95, 96,'97 and 98 the player desires to use his own taste and skill in determining the force of the strikingobject of the valve chamber 8. As already explained, the movementofthe valve 56 to uncover either of the ports 52 or 53, or both of them, also uncovers the middle port 54.-

This admits air through the tube 55 to the valve chamber 8 and thence through the tube 78 to raise the valve 74. By the consequent collapse of the bellows 64: the valve (see Fig. 8) to cover both the ports 40 and 41. In this case, the movement of the valves 21 and 22 is caused to depend solely on the air admitted through the tubes 50 and 51, which are connected to he manual device. Or the pneumatics, is. the

player may at any time by means of the whence it passes through the tube 78 to raise the valve 74 with the result just described. It will be seen, therefore, that the music sheet may be unprovided withjthe, additional perforations A the ducts 75* to 78 or if the player desires to disregard these perforations, he may by raising the valve 81 effectively cut out the operation of these perforations and 510 to valve casing 1 to atmosphere at will.

It will be understood that in whicheverway one of the valves 21, 22 is raised the effect will be to admit air to those tubes 11 which are at the time on the left or the right side, according to which of these valves is raised, of the valve 12. Air so passing through a tube 11 acts in the present instance to raise the diaphragm- 96 (see Fig. 14) and thus to cut off the connection between the low wind chamber 94 and the chamber 97 and to connect the latter with the high wind chamber 93. If then a perforation in the music sheet admits air through the corresponding tube 98 to raise the valve 99, the corresponding striking pneumatic 100 will be operated with an increased force varying with the difference between the degrees of suction in the chambers 93, 94. It is of course obvious that the admission of air to the groups of connections 11 at each side of the valve 12 in the valvecasing 1 is entirely independent of the movement of the valve in that casing,'such valve movement forming thesubject of revious patents, as already set forth. It wil also be understood that it is optional in constructing, the apparatus, whether the increase ofpressure, in the connections 11 shall cause the increase or the decrease of the tone volume or accent, it being, 'in my opinion, preferable to have it cause a decrense of the tone volume so as to have the note-soundin devices that are under the immediate contro of the port 14 of the valve 12 sound their notes louder rather than softer than the for registering with inclusive in the tracker,

notes above and below and thus facilitate.

the accenting of'a theme or single part of a musical composition. It is also obvious that though I have described the device as opting under suction and as admitting air to the groups of connections 11 at the ends of the valve casin 1, it may by slight changes within the mechanical skill of any one familiar with the art be arranged to work with air pressure instead of suction and to admit to the valve casing 1- and to the connections 11 pressure either greater or less than that of atmos )here. It is also clear that many con sidera. le mechanical changes may be made in the device without departing from the spirit of the invention, and that a part or parts of the device may be used independently of the others.

It will be understood thatmy present invention provides in addition to the known means for; accenting a solol note or small 1 group of notesand for shifting the point of f .such aecentuatiom'means both tracker controlled and manually controlled for accentloing the notes at either side of a dividing means, which-dividing means may be movable. "In addition, it provides for alternative operation of said last-named accenting means either through the tracker or manually, as required, and means for-preventing the interference of the-tracker controlled means with the manual meanswhen these latter are being employed.

';What I claim'is t 2Q "1. In inusicalapparatus, a series of pneumatic connections for the notes to be'soimdedymea'ns for varying the pneumatic force supplied to groups of said connections, a tracker having apertures in addition to those connected with the ordinaryaiote soundingpnenmatics, a valve controlling a plnralityof passages leading to said force varying means, and means controlled by a perforated music sheet passing over said 3.0 tracker and'coopera ting with said additional apertiiresfor moving said valve to alternativelyopen either of said passages and also to open and close all of said passages.

1 2. In musical apparatus, a series of pneumat-i0 connections for the notes to be sounded,.a tracker, means for supplying pneumatic force, means for dividing said coni nections into groups, and means controlled by a perforated music sheet passing over 40-Said tracker land including a unitary valve and means including a plurality of" pneuinatics for moving said, alive for directing such pneumatic forceto a group of said connections on either side of said dividing means, or simultaneously to both such groups.

3. In musical ap Jaratus, a series of pneumatic connections or the notesto be sounded, a tracker, means for supplying pneumatic force,'.movii lg means ford-ividing said connections into 'grou s,- and means con= trolledhy a perforate music sheetpassing over said tracker and including a unitary valve and means including a. plurality of neumatics for movingsaid valve for directmg such PlielllnfltlCfOlCC to a group ot connections on either, side of said dividing means, or'fsimultaneously to both such 6'0, -l."In'mu.. cal a 'iparatus, a series of pneumatic connections for the notes to be sound- M1,; tracker, means for supplying pneumatic force, means for comlucting such pneumatic force to a relatively small group off said connections, and means controlled by a perforated music sheet passing over said tracker and including a unitary valve and means including a pluralityof pneumatics'for moving said valve for directing such force to a group of said connections on either side of said conducting means, or simultaneously to both such groups.

In musical apparatus, a series of'pnenmatic connections for the notes to be soundsaid passages and also to open and close all of said passages.

.13. In mechanical musical apparatus, an accenting device,- pneumatic passages leading to sa d device, a valve controlling a pluralityof saidpassages, and pneumatically operated means for alternatively opening' cit-her of said passages and also for simultaneously opening and closing all of said passages.

7. In mechanical musical apparatus, an acccnting device,- pneumatic passages leading to said accepting device, a valve controlling a plurality of said passages, and manually operated means for alternatively opening either of said passages and also for simultaneously opening and closingall of said passages.

8. In musical apparatus, the combinatio n with note playing mechanisms, tracker-controlled means for actuating the respective note playingmechanisms, and means for accenting some of the notes differently from others; of" a tracker-duct and, means controlled thereby for varying the volume of sound of a given group of notes relatively; to another group, and a separate duct and means controlled thereby for restoring the.

volume-controlling means to their initial condition. v

9. In musical apparatus, the "combination with note playing mechanisms, tracker-controlled meansffor actuating the respective [note playing mechanisms, and means for acccnting some of the notes differently from others, of a tracker-duct and means controlled tli'ercby for varying the volume of sound of a given group of notes relatively toanother group, a separate duct and means controlled thereby for restoring the volume:

controlling means to their initial condition,

individual note ducts, means controlled by the said additional ducts for automatically accenting notes of either group differently from the other group, or alike and manual means for independently controlling the sounding of (he groups differently or alike at will and simultaneously rendering inoperative all the said automatic tracker controlled means.

11. In combination with note sounding devices, automatic tracker controlled means for varyingthe volume or intensity'of the sound of different groups of note sounding devices. and manually controlled means for doing the same and sin'iultaneoi'lsly rendering the automatic means inoperative in respect to all the said groups.

12. In combination in mechanical musical apparatus with means for aceenting some notes above others simultaneously sounding, means for shitting the'point or points of accentuation in the musical scale, tracker controlled automatic means for controlling the said accenting, and manually controlled means for also controlling the said accenting and simultaneous renderinginoperative the automatic means.

or ranges, a tracker duct and means con the sounding of trolled thereby for automatically varying one of the said ranges of notes, another tracker duct and means controlled thereby for automatically varying the sounding of another of the said ranges of notes separately therefrom, and a tracker duct and means controlled thereby for simultaneously and similarly varying both the last said ranges of notes.

15. Volume controlling means formechanical musical instruments, having means for sounding the respective notes and means for accenting some of the notes above the others, comprising means for shifting the point or points of acecntuation in the musical scale, a tracker duct and connections for simultaneously controlling the of the ranges of notes and separate tacker ducts and connections for controlling the accenting of the said two ranges respectively and separately.

16. Volume controlling means for mechanical musical instruments, comprising means for sounding the respective notes, adjustable means for separately accenting a variable range of one or more notes and tracker controlled means for controlling the accent ing of one or more other ranges of the notes so as to sound equally with or differently .t'rom the first said range, the last said means comprising one or more tracker ducts for increasing the sound or accentuation and one or more separate tracker ducts for decreasing the accentuation.

In testimony where fl have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses. r

D. C. Hams.

accenting of two 

